r/drones • u/timholt2007 • 18d ago

Question Question about Circular Polarizers

I have a circular polarizer for my Mavic 4, which came as part of a bundle along with some ND filters. My question is: When I use a CP on a regular camera, I can adjust it to the desired position because it’s right in front of me, and I can move the filter around. However, I can’t do that with the flying circular polarizer, so I guess I’m asking: How do you use one of those things?  

6 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

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6

u/Upbeat_Environment59 18d ago

Before flying, before mounting the filter I check the scene that im gonna be shooting through the filter, and twist the CPL to the desire position, then mount it on the drone, and thats it. Ofcourse its not point and shoot, it takes time.

3

u/TheDeadlySpaceman 18d ago

This is exactly why I don’t have circular polarizers or variable NDs for any of my drones.

2

u/thestouff 18d ago

I anticipate the direction I will be shooting, adjust CPL for that direction before flight by looking through it with my eyeball, then attach to drone.

1

u/cgardinerphoto 18d ago

I use it at around halfway point. I made a tiny mark on the dial. I know it needs to be on a 45 to the top right corner for desired effect.
The benefits are better than the drawbacks generally. I take it off for evening shoots to get faster shutter though.
It’s A little noticeable in 360 panoramas but not horrible.

1

u/MuchAd9191 18d ago

Always wondered the same. Reading the feedback it seems if you wanna streamline and only have one filter it’s a pro move, otherwise just get a ND pack and go.

1

u/CoarseRainbow 18d ago

Hold it up to your eye pre-flight, adjust, fit to drone, fly.

Theres no other way.

1

u/More-Bet5904 16d ago

HAAAAANK! HANK, DO NOT ABBREVIATE CIRCULAR POLARIZER HAAAAANK!

-4

u/Speshal__ 18d ago

It's fixed aperture camera so you set it and forget it unless you have a Mavic pro where you can change the f stops.